【Survey Report】In an era of 350,000 truants, over 80% of parents respond that 'truancy is a familiar problem,' while approximately 90% are unaware of concrete 'third places.'

Cocreco, a parenting website operated by Kodansha Ltd. (Headquarters: Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo), conducted a 'Survey on Free Schools' targeting 170 parents, in response to the recent increase in truant children and students.

According to a 2024 survey by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, the number of truant children and students exceeded a record high of 350,000, making it a serious social issue. This survey highlighted the current situation where many parents perceive truancy as 'their own problem' but are overwhelmingly lacking information about free schools, which could serve as a fallback option in times of need.

See more details here, including graphs, in the 'Cocreco' Free School Survey article.

■ Survey Results Topics

1. Over 80% of parents harbor 'a sense of crisis regarding truancy'
Among the survey respondents, approximately 80% reported that their first child attends school every day. However, when asked about the possibility of their child becoming truant in the future, the total reached 83% for those who 'have thought about it' and 'have thought about it a little.' This indicates that many parents feel the current school attendance situation is not a given and could change at any time.

2. A significant gap between 'information' and 'knowledge'
Only about 9% of respondents said they had a 'concrete idea' of facilities their child could attend if they became truant. On the other hand, approximately 86% of the total were in a state of 'thought paralysis,' with 'no idea at all how to find or where such places are (approx. 47%)' and 'only heard the name (approx. 39%),' indicating they cannot envision concrete steps.

3. '5 Core Information Points' emphasized in choosing a free school
The specific information parents seek regarding free schools is as follows (multiple responses):
- Activities/Curriculum (approx. 84%): What will they learn and what kind of stimulation will they receive?
- Fees (approx. 78%): Monthly costs directly impacting household finances, with little public subsidy.
- Quality of Teachers/Staff (approx. 70%): Availability of specialists who can empathize with the child's feelings.
- Future Career Paths (approx. 84%): How will their learning connect to their future?
- Treatment by Original School (approx. 58%): Exit strategies such as attendance recognition and grade evaluation.

See more details here, including graphs, in the 'Cocreco' Free School Survey article.

■ Making 'Third Places' an Active Choice

This survey revealed signs that free schools are evolving from mere 'alternatives to school (shelters)' to 'active choices' for learning in one's own way. Parents who have experienced truancy have also commented, 'The free school became a companion for our entire family.'

In response to these parental concerns, Cocreco will continue to disseminate information about 'diverse learning environments.'

【Survey Outline】

- Survey Period: April 8, 2026 – April 12, 2026
- Survey Targets: 170 parents (primarily in their 30s-40s)
- Survey Organization: Kodansha 'Cocreco'
- Survey Method: Internet survey

【About the Parenting Site 'Cocreco'】

An information site operated by Kodansha, answering parents' 'want to know' about child-rearing.
URL: https://cocreco.kodansha.co.jp/

【'Cocreco' Free School Survey Article】

URL: https://cocreco.kodansha.co.jp/cocreco/general/study/hutoukou/0cmCx

【Contact for this Matter】

Kodansha Ltd. Cocreco Editorial Department
Inquiry Form: https://cocreco.kodansha.co.jp/contact/cocreco